On April 15, 1942, a Board of Army Air Force Officers, being favorably impressed with an air field site just northeast of Walnut Ridge, recommended it be substituted for the site near Dyersburg, Tennessee, which Washington had rejected due to the amount of earthwork required.

As the recommendation moved up the chain of command, planning and surveying continued for the site at Walnut Ridge. The Board’s recommendation was approved, and on May 12, the War Department directed the Army Corps of Engineers to construct a Basic Flying School at Walnut Ridge with three runways and plan for more. Construction work on the Walnut Ridge Army Air Field began on June 20, 1942.

A tract of land consisting of 3096.22 acres was taken for the project. The purchase price was $305,075.There were 58 improvements, including the Moran School on the property. 45 families were living on the land.Five Auxiliary Air Fields were constructed, located at Biggers, Beech Grove, Bono, Pocahontas and Walcott.Another 2,623.9 acres were taken for these air fields.

The construction of the WRAAF brought in a flood of workers to the area.It is reported that some 1,500 workers swarmed to the site.Residents of Walnut Ridge and Pocahontas opened their hearts and homes to the new workers.People rented out vacant rooms, garages, attics and moved the kids into Mom and Dad’s bedroom to accommodate the workers.

Unemployment had reached 25% and more during the height of the depression. Walnut Ridge was described as a Ghost Town – no pedestrians, no automobile traffic.No one had any money – why come to town?At one time, there were 17 empty buildings on Main Street. The new air field brought a never-before experienced prosperity to most people in Lawrence and Randolph County.

Now anyone who wanted to work could get a great-paying job at the air field.Folks that were once glad to get $1.00 per day were suddenly making 50 cents to $1.00 per hour, or more.They came from all over:Jonesboro, Paragould, Monette, the Ozark Foothills and southern Missouri.

The Air Field was activated on August 15, 1942, with the arrival of the initial contingent of key military personnel. Ten days later, 100 troops arrived, but there was no housing available on the air field, so these troops were transported to and from the CCC camp, located at five-mile springs, north of Pocahontas for the first 30 days.

Even though the airfield was planned and designed as an AAFBFS, for some time it appeared it would instead become an Advanced Glider School.As late as September 1942, preparations were being made for gliders, including requests for instructional materials, gliders and tow planes.

Meanwhile the first 3 classes of Aviation Cadets programmed for Walnut Ridge were sent to Blytheville, which was being built as an Advanced Twin Engine School.Blytheville was scarcely any better prepared than Walnut Ridge. Circus tents were utilized for operations headquarters and classrooms. The runways were not ready, so flying was done from oil-coated dirt strips.

Finally, near the end of September the Southeast Training Command at Maxwell Field clarified the situation concerning the Air Field's mission by announcing 102 Aviation Cadets and 3 Student Officers from Decatur, Alabama, and 20 Aviation Cadets from Camden, Arkansas, would be sent to Walnut Ridge for Basic Flight Training.

For reasons unknown, the Advanced Glider School was established at Stuttgart, which was being built as an Advanced Twin-Engine School.

The first Student Officers and Aviation Cadets in Class 43-B began training at Walnut Ridge at 1:00 P.M on October 12, 1942.In just under 21 months5,310 students entered training and 4,641 graduated. Forty-Two students, instructors and passengers were killed in training. The last class graduated on June 27, 1944.

Between January 1941 and August 1945, 312,911 Aviation Cadets and Student Officers entered the USAAF Flight Training Program. Of that number, 85,491 or 27.32% washed out or were killed in Primary Flight Training. Another 28,474 or 9.10% washed out or were killed in Basic Flight Training, while 7,292 or 2.33% washed out or were killed in Advanced Flight Training. After winning their wings, 7,474 or 2.30% washed-out or were killed in Transition Flight Training, and 3,168 or 1.01% washed out or were killed in Flight Instructor Training.

About 3.4% of the flight students graduating from Basic Flight Schools between December 12, 1942, and June 27, 1944, received their training at the AAFBFS at Walnut Ridge.

On September 1, 1944, the WRAAF was transferred to the Department of the Navy and was known as the Marine Corps Air Facility, Walnut Ridge.The Marine Corps trained for only a brief time, using SBD-5’s and FG-1D Corsair’s. VMF-513 transferred to Walnut Ridge on September 14, 1944, and then moved to Mojave, California, on December 4, 1944.Never a thriving place, the station newspaper referred to it as “MCAF – Outpost of Charm and Seclusion.” MCAF, Walnut Ridge was decommissioned March 15, 1945.

Walnut Ridge played a significant role in training WWII pilots. All personnel who worked, trained or served here can be proud of their sacrifice and service to our country.

WRAAF Highlights

Sept. 5, 1942 – Post Headquarters moves to air field from Mize Motor Building in Walnut Ridge

During the eleven month period from November 1, 1942, thru September 30, 1943, the training hours flown at WRAAF were 160,648.The average for all Basic Flying Schools in the Southeast Training Command was 129,474. Walnut Ridge had .49 accidents per 1000 hours versus .57 accidents per 1000 hours average for all schools; however, the fatal accident rate at Walnut Ridge was higher, .087 per 1000 hours versus a .052 average.The hours flown at Walnut Ridge through June 30, 1944, totaled 414,429.

WRAAF FACTS

Bus Service From Pocahontas To The Air Field Started

Monday, September 7, 1942

Fare: One Way 25 cents, Roundtrip 30 cents

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Pocahontas went “all out” for the servicemen from the air field, providing an elaborate, wholesome Recreation Center on the top floor of the old courthouse. The Recreation Center opened

November 21, 1942.

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The WRAAF Post Theatre had a seating capacity of 600

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The Base newspaper, The WRAAF “Pilot” developed into a 6-page weekly, with a circulation of

1,500 copies.

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Hundreds of buildings had been hastily put up between June 20, 1942 and October 12, 1942, when flight training began, but the task was not finished.The following major buildings and structures were not completed until the next year; some as late as December, 1943.